Arrested suspect fled from hospital, leading to lockdown, cops say

June 25, 2014|By Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel

Orange County deputies are searching for suspect who was taken to Dr. P. Phillips Hospital after losing consciousness during his arrest and then fled, leading to a lockdown at the hospital, the Sheriff's Office said.

According to sheriff's spokesman Jeff Williamson, deputies were called to the Camera Expo store on Vineland Avenue about 10:15 a.m., after the suspect grabbed cash that had been placed on the counter and ran.

When an employee of the business chased and caught the suspect, the suspect attacked the worker, Williamson said. The suspect then fled into a wooded area, where deputies from the OCSO K-9 unit caught him.

During his arrest, the suspect "had a medical issue and lost consciousness," Williamson said. Deputies took him to the hospital on Turkey Lake Road. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, he left, Williamson said.

"Investigators from the Orange County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident while patrol deputies continue to search for the suspect," Williamson said in a statement. The suspect's name hasn't been released.

Dr. P. Phillips Hospital was put on lockdown for about 40 minutes due to the law enforcement activity in the area, Orlando Health spokeswoman Katie Dagenais said in an email. The lockdown has since been lifted.